<<==W.W. Cherry
FOR THOSE WHO GREW UP during the Great Depression, buying a Cadillac or Lincoln was something you did only if you were past 50.
Although my daddy, W.W. Cherry, preferred the look, style and comfort of a Cadillac, loving to take on the city's best negotiator required that he buy Lincolns. Kyle Gillespie owned the Lincoln dealership. Trying to outfox him, my daddy thought, was the ultimate challenge.
"Kyle, here's my check for $9,000," Daddy said to Mr. Kyle. "Saturday's August 1st, and you've got a payroll to meet. Bet this'll cover it nicely."
"Bill Cherry, shame on you. You and I go to church together, and here you are trying to steal a car from me. But to keep you from being a 61-year old crook, I'll let the blue one with the gin-you-wine cloth upholstery go for $9,500."
Daddy took out his wallet. It was full of brand new $100 bills. He pealed off five of them and set them on top of the $9,000 check. "I'll have it ready for you in the morning," Mr. Kyle said, continuing to chew his ever-present piece of gum, but sensing the deal wasn't finished
"I'm going to really like that 1970 gold Lincoln with the 8-track stereo system, the gin-you-wine leather upholstery and the moon roof," Daddy said like it was just to recap.
"Where'd you get the idea that you were getting the hottest car on my lot, the one with the gin-you-wine leather upholstery, the 8-track stereo system and the moon roof for $9,500? That car'll cost you another thousand."
Even though the negotiating continued for days, the deal was finally made. Nevertheless, having to have the last word, Daddy said, "You're going to have to throw in a free tank of gas."
"I didn't say anything about a free tank of gas. Buy it yourself. You've already taken every cent of profit I was going to make. Now you want me to go in the hole. OK, tell you what, if you promise me you'll stay out of my sight for the rest of your life, I'll give you the gas."
That was the summer the American National Insurance Co. board of directors brought in a younger man named Glendon Johnson to be the new president.
Since Daddy was one of the company's directors and senior officers, it was decided that the sales managers from all across the U.S. would be brought to the Shamrock Hotel in Houston where Daddy would introduce Mr. Glendon to them with a rousing introduction.
Daddy's associate, Arnold Frankovich, would arrange for big red, white and blue banners to be draped across the front entrance to the Shamrock, and there'd be the most elaborate buffet in the Emerald Room.
At a prescribed time, the sales managers would gather around the front door, under the red, white and blue banners. Daddy would bring Mr. Glendon from the airport in the new Lincoln. As they would start up the long driveway, a Dixieland band would start playing and the sales managers would blow whistles, play kazoos and wave flags. Then Daddy would pull up in front, the doorman would open the car's right door, and Mr. Glendon would jump out, joyous and smiling and shaking hands with this one and that.
Daddy wasn't able to pick up the new 1970 gold Lincoln Towncar, the one with the gin-you-wine leather upholstery, the 8-track stereo, the moon roof, and with the full tank of gas, from Mr. Kyle until moments before he was to leave for the Houston airport.
As he approached the airport, he realized the gas gage was on empty. Had Mr. Kyle forgotten to put in the free tank of gas or was the gage not working? He had no time to stop at a service station to see. Mr Glendon's plane would be landing in moments.
Daddy parked the new Lincoln at the door, slipping the skycap a ten spot to watch the car, and went inside the airport to meet Mr. Glendon. When they came out and got in the car, it wouldn't start. No amount of praying was going to put gas in an empty tank.
Just then a big linen truck drove up and parked behind the Lincoln. Daddy got out, went back to the driver and said, "Hi, I'm Bill Cherry." He stuck out his hand.
"The name's Calvin," the driver said with a skeptical look as he shook Daddy's hand.
"I want you to know that the people who run one of our companies, the National Hotels, really think a lot of your linen service. Probably your biggest account."
Daddy went on, "Calvin, I've got a problem. My new Lincoln won't start, and I've got to get Mr. Johnson to a meeting at the Shamrock. He's our company's new president, and I'd guess he's going to have a lot of influence on whether the National Hotels keeps doing business with you. So you can see why I need for you to loan me your laundry truck to drive him there."
Calvin said he couldn't let Daddy and Mr. Glendon use his truck, but he would drive them to the Shamrock so he could save the day for his good customer. However, Daddy and Mr. Glendon would have to ride on the bags of dirty laundry in the back since there was only one front seat.
Fine. Daddy and Mr. Glendon jumped in the back, and Calvin left for the Shamrock.
When he started up the Shamrock's long driveway, Mr. Glendon and Daddy could see the big red, white and blue banners, the several hundred sales managers gathered around with their whistles and kazoos and the Dixieland band waiting to play.
The doorman saw the truck coming up the guest entrance driveway rather than going around back to the service entrance. He went nuts, blowing his taxi-calling whistle and waving his hands wildly.
Calvin kept on coming. When he got to the front door, he jumped out, opened the back doors to the truck, and out flew Mr. Glendon and Daddy. The bewildered sales managers started blowing their whistles, playing their kazoos and waving the flags. The Dixieland band cranked up "When the Saints Go Marching In" Daddy palmed a crisp C-note from his wallet and passed it on to Calvin.
In the Emerald Room, Daddy took the podium and began his glowing introduction of Mr. Glendon, never mentioning the unusual arrival. Then Mr. Glendon took the mike, smiled as only he could and opened with, "Unaccustomed as I am to arriving this way...." Everyone howled.
Mr. Glendon left the American National seven years later. Daddy, retired by then, continued driving Lincolns. But I don't recall that Mr. Glendon ever bought one.
Mr. Kyle will be 88-years old at the end of this month. Daddy will have been with the Lord for 27 years on the 17th, a loss I've never quite gotten over. For those reasons, it seemed to me to be a superb time to share this story about two dear friends.
Copyright 2004-2007 - William S. Cherry
Your Dad was an astute and ingenious man, Bill. This was a wonderful story to read first thing this morning and I can see where you got your initiative and salesmanship skills from...a chip off the old block. I'm sorry to hear that you still feel the pain of the loss of your Dad; I supposed it is one of those passages in life that one never really gets over. I'm fortunate in that both of my parents are still living and live nearby.
Jo
Miss Chris, Miss Jo and Miss Sybil --
Thanks for enjoying this story about my dad and his friend, Kyle Gillespie. Both were such spectacular salesmen, and both were straight as an arrow honorable.
I loved this one Bill...I could just picture them!
Did your Dad ever confront Kyle about the gas?
Miss Joan,
The two men ushered together at church since the beginning of time. That gas issue was discussed and rediscussed every Sunday before and after the service.
Daddy had this wonderful aura about him. Always impeccably dressed, smart and well-spoken. And a superb people-person. I think that's what makes me love this story more than anything.
Thanks for liking it.